Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation

Preservation, Management, and Promotion of the Historical Archive of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation

PostScriptum announces the completion of the project “From the Aegean to the Ionian: A Sea of Knowledge – Preservation, Management, and Promotion of the Historical Archive of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation,” a multifaceted program aimed at safeguarding, highlighting, and disseminating Greek insular and maritime culture both nationally and internationally.

For the first time, a significant portion of the Foundation’s collection has been digitized and presented online, while interactive digital applications with various educational activities and games have been developed. These invite the public, regardless of age, to participate in a unique learning and entertainment experience. The applications leverage cutting-edge technologies and immersive practices, showcasing their unlimited potential and multiple benefits for culture.

The project “From the Aegean to the Ionian: A Sea of Knowledge” marks the evolution of the digital transformation of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. Following successful implementations such as Travelogues: The Gaze of the Travelers, this program complements the effort to document Greek social history and cultural heritage. Additionally, the semantic structure of the project proposes a modern and innovative model for managing and utilizing historical and cultural capital, focusing on critical contemporary issues with an eye toward the future.

The project is structured around three main pillars:

DIGITIZATION, DOCUMENTATION & PROMOTION OF ARCHIVAL MATERIAL

Adopting international practices, the project included the scanning of 270 rare works from the Historical Library’s travel and ichthyological collection, 4,000 photographs of lighthouses, 8,825 documents from the Archive of Vice Admiral Christos Ntounis, and 1,787 documents from the Tsangaris Archive. It also involved photographing 52 seascapes by Konstantinos Volanakis and the digitization and 3D modeling of 40 objects from the Foundation’s Maritime Collection and the traditional boat “Evangelistria.” The digitized collection will be presented to the public as a virtual museum, with free access for everyone, not only in Greece but also internationally, including accessibility for visually impaired individuals.

DIGITAL APPLICATIONS

Aimed at attracting a broader audience through an experiential and interactive experience, digital applications inspired by the Foundation’s archival material were developed. These applications attempt to bridge the past with the present and serve as a repository of historical and cultural knowledge and experience for future generations.

Examples include two digital exhibitions dedicated to the unique seascapes of Konstantinos Volanakis and rare nautical objects from the Foundation’s Collections, a mobile application “Tours” based on the Foundation’s invaluable travel literature, and an interactive map of Lighthouses, Shipwrecks, and Lazarettos, providing extensive information about these crucial coastal structures and the fascinating mysteries of the seas.

EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM

Continuing the Foundation’s long tradition in educational programs, a hybrid, phygital museum kit was created, including a wide range of original educational programs and games specially designed for different age groups. The Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation aims to familiarize students and teachers with social and cultural history, enhance their critical and creative thinking, and encourage positive behaviors based on empathy and acceptance of diversity.

Notable examples include the application “The Sea in Literature,” which through special videos aims to immerse users in the prominent theme of the sea in the works of Greek writers, the educational game “Castles and Siegers,” where users learn through play about the castles and fortresses of Greece, and the digital shipbuilding game, which, based on the 3D model of the “Evangelistria,” creatively and enjoyably provides users with information on the techniques and methods of constructing traditional boats and the art of Greek shipbuilding carpentry.

About the Project

The project “From the Aegean to the Ionian: A Sea of Knowledge – Preservation, Management, and Promotion of the Historical Archive of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation” was implemented through the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation” (EPAnEK) 2014-2020, co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund – ERDF).

The digitization and documentation of the archive as well as the design and development of the applications were carried out by the company PostScriptum – Information & Communication Technologies Ltd. on behalf of the Foundation.